NOTE: Any changes in length of skirt must be worked before first dec round.

Using circular needle, cast on 592(608-624) sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts. Work round and round in seed st until piece measures 2½ inches. Oh the next round * K 59(61-63) sts, work 15 sts in seed st, repeat from * to end of round—8 seed st panels. Repeat this round until piece measures 5 inches. FIRST DEC ROUND: * K 2 tog, K 55(57—59) sts, K 2 tog, work 15 sts in seed st, repeat from * to end of round—16 sts dec. Work even 2 inches. SEC­OND DEC ROUND: * K 2 tog, K 53(55-57) sts, K 2 tog, work 15 sts in seed st, repeat from * to end of round—16 sts dec. Continue to dec 1 st each side of every K panel every 2 inches, having 2 sts less in each K panel on each dec round, until piece measures 12(12-14) inches—528 (544-544) sts. On the next round dec 16 sts in same manner as before and repeat this dec round every 1 inch until piece measures 31(31-32) inches—224(240-256) sts. ON SIZES 16 AND 18 ONLY, on the next round dec 1 st in center of each K panel—8 sts dec. Work 1 inch even. ON ALL SIZES, bind off remaining 224(232-248) sts.

BACK: Using straight needles, cast on 119(127-135) sts. Work in seed st until piece measures 2 inches. Now work in stockinette st, dec 1 st each end of needle every 1 inch 5 times. Work even on 109(117-125) sts until piece meas­ures 8 inches. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every ¾ inch 9 times more. Work even on 129(137-145) sts until piece measures 15(15-15½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 7(8-9) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 5 times. Work even on 105(111-117) sts until armholes measure 1½ inches, ending with a K row. YOKE: On the next row P 7(10-13) sts, * work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 17 sts, repeat from * ending work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 7(10-13) sts—6 cactus pat­terns set up. Continue in stockinette st, following cactus pattern on 6 sts set up on previous row until the 25 pattern rows have been completed. Work even in stockinette st for ¼ inch. On the next row work 45(48-51) sts; seed st on center 15 sts; work remaining 45(48-51) sts. Repeat this row for ¼ inch, ending with a K row. On the next row P 7(10-13) sts, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 37 sts, seed st on center 15 sts, P 37 sts, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 7(10-13) sts. Continue to work center 15 sts in seed st, working a cactus pattern at each side as set up until armholes measure 4¼(4½-4¾) inches. BACK OPEN­ING: Work to center st; join another ball of yarn and bind off center st; work to end of row. Work even on both sides at once, keeping 7 sts at each center edge in seed st, until the 25 pattern rows have been completed. Work in stocki­nette st for ¼ inch, ending with a K row. On the next row P 7(10-13) sts, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 27 sts, work seed st on remaining 17 sts of right side of back; on left side of back work in seed st on 17 sts, P 27 sts, work Row 1 of pattern st in next st, P 7(10-13) sts. Work a cactus pat­tern at each side on sts set up, moving seed st 1 st nearer each arm edge EVERY ROW until there are 29(31-31) sts in seed st on each side. Work even in pattern as set up until armholes measure 7¼(7½-7¾) inches, ending with a P row. On the next row K tog each 3 sts of each P 3 cactus pattern—52(55-58) sts on each side. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At each arm edge bind off 7(9-13) sts 5(4-3) times. Bind off remaining 17(19-19) sts of each side.

FRONT: Cast on 127(135-143) sts. Work in seed st until piece measures 2 inches. On the next row P 43(46-48) sts, put a marker on needle, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 39(41-45) sts, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, put a marker on needle, P 43(46-48) sts. Work a cactus pattern at each side in sts set up and keep all sts outside markers in stockinette st, dec 1 st each end of needle every 1 inch 5 times, forming a new pattern each time ¼ inch above last pattern. Continue to work cactus patterns directly above each other until piece measures 8 inches. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc
every ¾ inch 9 times more. Work even on 137(145-153) sts until piece measures approximately 15½(15½-16) inches, ending with Row 18 of pattern. On the next row P 32(35-37) sts, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P 11 sts, work in pattern as set up to last 33(36-38) sts, work Row 1 of pattern in next st, P remaining 32(35-37) sts. Work these 2 new cactus patterns on sts set up, continuing in es­tablished pattern on all other sts, until 2 center cactus pat­terns have been completed. SHAPE ARMHOLES: Dis­continuing 2 center cactus patterns, at the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 10(11-12) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 6 times and AT THE SAME TIME, when 18 rows of each cactus pattern are completed, work as follows: P to 12 sts before first cactus pattern, work Row 1 of cactus pattern in next st, work in pattern as set up to 11 sts beyond second cactus pattern, work Row 1 of pat­tern in next st, P to end of row. Continue in pattern as es­tablished, working all sts between 2 new cactus patterns in stockinette st when previous cactus patterns are com­pleted. When these 2 cactus patterns have been completed, work even in stockinette st on 105(111-117) sts for ¼ inch, ending with a K row. Then work 12 rows of a cactus pat­tern above each cactus pattern just completed. On the next row work in pattern to center 34 sts; work these 34 sts in seed st; work in pattern to end of row. Follow pattern as set up, moving seed st 1 st nearer each arm edge EVERY ROW until there are 58(62-62) sts in seed st. Work even in pattern until cactus patterns are completed. Start 2 more cactus patterns ¼ inch above each cactus pattern just completed and work 2 rows. SHAPE NECK: Work in pattern to center 27(31-31) sts; join another ball of yarn and bind off these 27(31-31) sts; work to end of row. Work­ing on both sides at once, dec 1 st at each neck edge every other row 4 times. Work even until armholes measure 7¼(7½-7¾) inches, ending on wrong side of work. On the next row K tog each 3 sts of each P 3 cactus pattern sts—35(36-39) sts. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At each arm edge bind off 7(9-13) sts 5(4-3) times.

SLEEVES: Cast on 64(64-68) sts. Work in seed st for 2 inches. Then work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every ¾ inch until there are 98(104-110) sts. Work even until piece measures 17½(18-18) inches. SHAPE CAP. At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 10(11-12) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row for 4¼(4½-4¾) inches. At the beg of each of the next 6 rows bind off 3 sts. Bind off remaining sts.

FINISHING: Block each piece. Work 2 rows s c around top edge of skirt. Work a beading on inside top of skirt. Thread a tapestry needle with Beada and using a double strand, embroider 3 times over each stem and top of cactus as shown in photograph. Sew underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. Using yarn, work 1 row s c around all edges. Using Beada, work a chain st outlining seed st borders on neck, sleeve and bottom of blouse. Close back opening with slide fastener. Run elastic, cut to waist meas­urement through beading and sew ends tog. Re-block skirt and blouse.